Let me begin with a question: Why do we do what we do? Now, I’m speaking broadly. In all the various situations and circumstances of life, the little things and the big things, what prompts us to do the things we do? Well that is a far more difficult question than we sometimes realize. Why? Well, because there are many complex factors—various layers of motivations within us that influence our decisions. It is true that circumstances outside of us, including other people, may impact us. But in the end, we decide to do what we do. They are our decisions that flow from our own motivations. Ultimately, we do what we want to do, and what we want is the real issue. Consequently, we have to know something about our heart to ascertain the reason behind our actions. Jesus notes this, in reference to our words. He says, “Out of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The heart is the source for our speech. The mouth is a window to the soul. As someone aptly said, the matter of the heart is the heart of the matter. The exercise of our will is the fruit, but our spiritual nature is the root from which our will springs.